Exclusive Interview with John Henry Newman
May 1st1847
Interviewer: Good Morning Reverend Newman, or is it just Mr. Newman now?
Newman: Well, I am currently in formation for the priesthood so I’m not a Reverend yet; but you can call me John or Henry.
Interviewer: Thank you John! First of all, I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about yourself: for the readers that may not know you!
Newman: Well, I was born on February 21, 1801 and I was brought up in the Anglican Tradition. From when I was very young, I had a strong appeal towards religion and would spend time reading and studying the Scriptures.[1]However, as it happens to many young men as they start to grow, I began to question the dogmatic and revealed doctrines of Christianity. I sought to live a life of virtue, the life of a gentleman, but without involving God. This all changed for me when I was fifteen years old and read “Force of Truth” by Thomas Scott. This book changed my life and was my first true encounter with the love of God. The words of Thomas Scott inspired a profound change in me and pushed me to put God in the center of my life. I went to Trinity college where I considered a secular career; however, I ended up choosing Church ministry. After my studies, I was elected a fellow of Oriel College. I also became an Anglican minister, and later, vicar of St Mary's, which is, of course, the church at Oxford University.
Interviewer: So, when did these doubts or concerns about the Anglican begin?
Newman:
For some time before 1839, I was heavily involved in the Oxford movement which seeks to return to the traditions of the early years of the Church and place a special emphasis on the Church Fathers. For members of the Movement, the Church of England was a middle way ( or Via Media as we called it) between Puritanism, which discarded ancient traditions, and Roman Catholicism, which corrupted them. The goal was to stay balanced in a time when the Church of England was moving more towards Puritanism. There was a serious concern among some of us in the hierarchy that Bishops were being appointed for political rather than religious orthodoxy. We believed that the Church had a Divine appointment independent of the state with rights, prerogatives, and powers of its own. [2]Supporting and defending this movement led me to a serious study of the early Church and the Fathers. As I was studying the struggle of the early Church with the Monophysites in 1939, I believe it was, I came to a shocking and disturbing realization. The thing is that it was difficult for me to make out how Monophysites were heretics, unless Protestants and Anglicans were heretics also. I truly felt in that moment, as an Anglican, like a Monophysite: going against the true Church of Christ. It was after this discovery that I began to truly examine what this meant for my life including what it meant for my ministry and work. It was a slow process and it all began with this.[3]
Interviewer: What appealed to you about the Catholic Church and how was the process of taking that decision to leave the Anglican Church?
Newman: It was very surprising because I was raised up to believe that the Catholic Church was the Antichrist. However, as I continued my studies of the Church Fathers, I began to see a truth that could not be denied. The years between my discovery of this truth and my initiation in the Catholic Church were very difficult: full of tension and distress. At this point, that my sympathies had grown towards the religion of Rome I do not deny; that my reasons for shunning her communion had lessened or altered it would be difficult perhaps to prove. And I wished to go by reason, not by feeling. Even though I had given up upon the Church of England by 1841 and had held affections for Rome for two years at that point, I was afraid to give into my affections for Rome because there were not rooted in reason. [4]As more time passed, I began to reconcile reason with my feeling, yet one last obstacle prevailed: that of authority. I firmly believed in the authority of the Anglican Church. If the Church of England had misled me, how could I be so certain of the veracity of the authority of Rome? Furthermore, if I rejected the authority of the Church of England, was I relying on my own private judgment, just as the contemporary Liberals do? In the end, as I continued to study the apostles, I realized that there was true apostolic succession in the Catholic Church. There is nothing which the Church has defined or shall define but what an Apostle, if asked, would have been fully able to answer. In the end, it was the faithfulness of the Church to the apostles that convinced me that this path was the Truth. With conviction in my heart, I was received into the Roman Catholic Church on October 9, 1845.
Interviewer: I think it is fair to say that people were shocked at your conversion and that it caused a commotion. How did those close to you react?
Newman: I have to agree that people were shocked: both Anglicans and Catholics. I think that there are two reasons for this. The first is that I could be considered a prominent Anglican minister who had done a lot for the Church. The second is that this change required a lot of sacrifice. I have to “start over” you could say in the sense of my ministry and formation. And I did loose many friendships and had many struggles within my family. At the end however, for me Truth is the most important thing, and I sincerely believe that the Truth is found in the Roman Catholic Church. Furthermore, I believe that change is an essential part of formation and therefore, I don’t see this as a bad thing, but an opportunity to fortify myself in my resolve to follow the Truth.
Interviewer: I understand that you have made your decision, and that you don’t see a way back to the Church of England. However, is there anything you would advise the Church of England?
Newman: Well it is a very hard question. I mean I would of course advise them to return to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church: not for the sake of the Catholic Church, but for the sake of the Church of England. I pray for the day when this becomes a reality, although I understand the difficulty of this reconciliation. At the very least however, I would encourage the Church to return to the Tradition of the Apostles and Church Fathers. This was the goal of the Oxford movement and I think that it would be the first step towards reconciliation with the Catholic Church.
Interviewer: What would you say to someone who is experiencing similar doubts and struggles in their faith as you faced?
Newman: My advice would be to keep searching for the Truth and look for it in the Catholic Church. You will find it if you truly have an open heart! Living in the Truth will not only be rewarded by the promise of eternal life, but also by a higher life here on earth. It will be difficult and there will be many obstacles, but it is worth it. I myself have and continue to encounter many difficulties. In the face of this, persevere. You will find the peace and Truth that you are looking for.
Interviewer: So, what are your plans for now and the future? You spoke about priesthood?
Newman: Well with the grace of God I will be ordained a Catholic Priest for the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri at the end of the month. I will work as a priest in the Oratory at Maryvale. With the grace of God, I hope to help others find the Truth and experience the love of God through the Sacraments.
Interviewer: Finally, what would you hope to accomplish by this change of Church and lifestyle?
Newman: What I truly want to accomplish is what each one of us should want as their ultimate goal: to reach Eternal Life with Christ. I believe that the best way to reach this goal is through the path and guidance of the Catholic Church.
Interviewer: Well John, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I think that a lot of people are angry or confused about your decision and I think this will at least share your side of the story. I think that you made some honest and valid arguments.
Newman: Well I would just like to say that I never did any of it trying to hurt anyone or confuse people. I just followed my heart and what I believe is the Truth. And please know that I will always pray for those whom I ministered to while I was a minister of the Church of England.
Works Cited
Servants of the Pierced Hearts. 2004. PiercedHearts.August. Accessed August 2019.
https://www.piercedhearts.org/theology_heart/life_saints/john_henry_newman.htm.
Newman, John Henry. Apologia Pro Vita Sua. London: Sheed & Ward, 1978.
McNamara, Pat. "Newman's Road to Rome." Catholic Education Resource Center. 2012.
Accessed August 18, 2019. https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/faith-and-
character/faith-and-character/newman-s-road-to-rome.html.
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